The Impact of Sexual Violence

Many survivors of sexual violence experience long term effects, which may affect many aspects of their lives. All of these effects are adaptations to a very abnormal situation (the sexual violence) and many arise out of the survivor’s best attempts to cope with an impossibly stressful situation. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse may develop patterns of coping that are carried into adulthood resulting in behaviors that no longer serve the best interests of the survivor and may, in fact, get in the way of experiencing satisfaction in life. This list may help you to see connections between your experience of sexual violence and some impacts on your life: